“8 Tips for International Shipping
1. Determine the international demand for your product.
Before launching a site-wide campaign for an international clientele, do your research to determine if there is real demand for your product abroad.
If you’ve already received requests from customers around the world to start shipping to them, this can give you a clear idea of which countries to expand to.
But if you don’t have international clients knocking on your door, you’ll need a well thought out strategy to enter new markets around the world.
Start by looking at what’s currently available in the country you’re shipping to, and if any similar products are already sold.
And don’t forget to pay attention to your main competitors in each country.
You might be able to offer one country something completely unique, but join the sea of competitors in another territory.
Once you’ve judged the demand for your product in certain countries, it’s a good idea to test the waters by selling in your local market.
More importantly, it will be a great way to start growing your international audience, just like you did with your domestic audience.
It takes time, so don’t rush. Before promoting international shipping throughout your online business, make sure you have a strong strategy in place.
Keep in mind that international customers will shop slightly differently and may use a different marketplace than Amazon or eBay.
2. Reduce transportation costs. Just like domestic shipping, don’t be afraid to think outside the box to save on shipping. Try pricing strategies like flat-rate shipping or free shipping. Another great way to keep costs down is to adjust the delivery time of your packages. If customers don’t mind waiting a few days longer to receive their items, they’ll see huge shipping savings.
3. Understand what is legal overseas shipping.
One of the many reasons why international shipping differs from domestic shipping is country-specific shipping requirements. Items that are regularly sold and shipped in the U.S. may be prohibited from being imported into certain countries. Nail polish, fresh fruit, vegetables, cigarettes, medical equipment, cell phones and jewelry are just a few examples of regulated goods that either cannot be transported at all or require additional documentation when traveling to certain countries. Don’t be afraid to do the list and don’t. USPS, UPS, and FedEx have created helpful guides listing what can and cannot be shipped worldwide.
4. Be prepared for additional duties and taxes
The next important step in preparing your online business for international shipping is determining the duties, duties and taxes that may apply. Also, you want to make sure you have the customs documents you need to ship abroad, as duties and taxes will depend on the information you fill out on the customs forms. Factors that can affect duties and taxes include:
Related insurance
Shipping fee
The value and quantity of the product shipped
There are two ways to collect duties: DDU (Duty Unpaid) and DDP (Duty Paid). DDU means that the customer pays any duties or taxes themselves, while DDP means that you, the merchant, pay those fees up front.
If you ship directly to the customer, DDP is the more obvious option, as long as you make it clear to the customer that any customs or taxes are their responsibility. Alternatively, if you’re bulk shipping to a warehouse or fulfillment provider in the destination country, you’ll be using DDP, so you’ll need to factor these fees into your cross-border product costs.
5. Protect fragile packages during international shipping.
If you plan to ship fragile items around the world, then you must take steps to protect them from being damaged or damaged in transit.
The key is in the packaging.
You need to make sure you choose the right size box for the job. Ideally, it should be large enough to hold your belongings, but still have plenty of room for protective material.
General rule of thumb:
You want to leave about 2 inches of space on all sides for additional packing. On top of that, you run the risk of moving items around in the box too much.
What’s more, it’s better to use a brand new box, as the used box may be weaker and therefore more likely to give way.
If possible, opt for double-wall corrugated boxes, especially if your items are heavier, as they are the sturdiest variety.
6. Start with one or two countries.
Selling internationally is not an all-or-nothing proposition. It is wise to start small and sell in one or two countries. Then, you can slowly expand your reach. How do you choose where to sell and ship first? Start from a country where you already see a lot of web traffic or where you know the language
7. Do your research to avoid scams
Take appropriate steps to avoid being deceived. If you plan to use a freight service, get multiple quotes first. Some shipping companies that offer to ship your items abroad are actually fragile businesses that struggle to take care of your products and rarely deliver your shipments to their destination within the agreed time frame. Here are a few ways to detect possible scams:
Double check the URL. It is a common practice for fraudulent freight forwarders to imitate more reputable brands. Check to make sure their website is hosted on their own domain and spelled correctly.
Look carefully at the content on their website. Scammers sometimes clone blogs, web copies, and videos of other businesses (and accidentally leave references to those companies). And, in the case of their original content, it’s often full of grammatical errors. Sometimes you can even identify a clone by looking at the quality of the logo on the homepage.
8. Know the correct shipping terminology.
Our final big tip is to master shipping terminology.
No matter which international shipping service you choose, it’s always helpful to know some basic terms so you can always ensure a coherent conversation with the courier and everyone involved with your shipping.
More importantly, having this knowledge can help you better control the entire shipping process and avoid unnecessary surprises for you and your new global customers.
Harmonized Tariff Code – This is the code given to each of your products to indicate the description of the item and it is required when filling out your commercial invoice documents.
Commercial Invoice – A customs document containing all relevant information about your product, used to calculate duties and taxes on your package.
Certificate of Origin – An official document used to verify the country of origin of your shipment.
Export Declaration – A form that provides information on the quantity, nature and value of an item, presented during customs and used as an export control document.
Duties and Taxes – Fees levied by the country where your goods are imported.
Additionally, duties and taxes are calculated based on product value, trade agreements, country of manufacture, product use and the product’s Harmonized System code.
Whether you, as a merchant, pay these fees (shipping paid) or charge your customers (shipping not paid) is up to you as a merchant.
If you want your customers to pay any duties and taxes, just make sure they are fully aware of these additional charges after receiving the package.”
